James 2:3

“And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, etc.] Take notice of him, and show favour to him, to the neglect and contempt of the other. This is an instance of respect of persons condemned and dissuaded from: and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; the best place; whether it be in a religious assembly, or in a civil court of judicature: and say to the poor, stand thou there; or in a lower and meaner place: or sit thou here under my footstool; this also was contrary to the Jewish canons f19, that one should sit, and another stand, while their cause was trying; the law runs thus: “one shall not sit, and another stand, but both shall stand; but if the sanhedrim, or court,…”

“have respect to him, &c.--though ye know not who he is, when perhaps he may be a heathen. It was the office of the deacons to direct to a seat the members of the congregation [CLEMENT OF ROME, Apostolical Constitutions, 2.57, 58]. unto him--not in the best manuscripts. Thus "thou" becomes more demonstratively emphatic. there--at a distance from where the good seats are. here--near the speaker. under my footstool--not literally so; but on the ground, down by my footstool. The poor man must either stand, or if he sits, sit in a degrading position. The speaker has a footstool as well as a good seat.”

“And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing - If you show him superior attention on account of his rich and gay apparel, giving him a seat by himself, and treating others with neglect or contempt. Religion does not forbid proper respect to rank, to office, to age, or to distinguished talents and services, though even in such cases it does not require that we should feel that such persons have any peculiar claims to salvation, or that they are not on a level with all others, as sinners before God; it does not forbid that a man who has the means of procuring for himself an eligible pew in a church should be permitted to do so; but it requires that men shall be regarded and treated…”

“Ye look upon him - With respect. James 2:4”

“2:3-4 It is natural to give special attention to wealthy people because of their social status, political power, and potential generosity as patrons. By serving and publicly honoring the wealthy, the church could gain whatever economic benefits they wished to give. James warns that this discrimination reflects evil motives, a division between loyalty to God (1:6) and a desire for the benefits of worldly wealth (4:4).”

“ye: Jde 1:16 in a good place: or well, or, seemly to the: Jam 2:6; Isa 65:5; Luk 7:44-46; Co2 8:9 James 2:4”